U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers last week that more money will be needed by June to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia, according to multiple sources.
Congress, in its most-recent appropriation for Ukraine in December, gave $45 billion it expected to bolster Ukraine until September or October. The money was part of a $1.66 trillion government funding package.
However, the munitions and money from that appropriation is being used up at a faster rate than had been expected.
Milley, who met with Congressional leaders on Thursday, said another appropriation will be needed by June to prevent Ukraine from being unable to maintain operations and defend against Russian attacks, sources said.
Congress appropriated roughly $112 billion in military and economic support for Ukraine in four separate spending bills last year, the Washington Examiner reported.
That includes $23.5 billion in weapons and equipment from Defense Department stockpiles, provided through presidential drawdowns, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institute.
President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv last week, when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Biden, who has repeated his commitment to helping Ukraine, announced the administration’s latest military aid package, valued at roughly $460 million, during his trip there.
Among Republicans, there’s a rift growing regarding future funding to Ukraine.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and former Vice President Mike Pence are among those party members who have defended U.S. support of Ukraine. Read more at Newsmax.